Ethicizing

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The practice of developing a set of ethical guidelines to influence conduct
2. The act of interpreting or treating situations through an ethical framework to guide decisions and behaviors
3. Engaging in the process of considering moral values when evaluating actions or choices

Etymology: "Ethicizing" is the present participle of "ethicize," a verb formed from "ethic" and the suffix "-ize." The base noun "ethic" comes from Greek "ēthikos," meaning "relating to character or habit," which itself grew from "ēthos," a word for a person's customary disposition. The suffix "-ize," from Greek "-izein," is a common way of turning a noun or adjective into a verb meaning "to make into, treat in a certain way, or engage in a process." Put together, "ethicize" means to bring ethical considerations into something, and "ethicizing" names the ongoing act of doing so. The word is a transparent combination of its parts, with no sharp shift in meaning from the original Greek sense of character and habit to the modern idea of weighing moral values.